Poses for Your Chest

A modification of Plank Pose, Forearm Plank strengthens and tones the core, thighs, and arms.

This pose provides a gentle massage to the spine and belly organs.

A classic standing posture, Vrksasana establishes strength and balance, and helps you feel centered, steady and grounded.

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, a well-known backbend, will challenge you to lift and open your chest.

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana is a deep hip opener and forward bend that you should approach consciously to reap its many benefits.

Named for a legendary warrior, Virabhadrasana 2 strengthens your quads, shoulders, and core—not to mention your stamina and inner resolve.

There's a general consensus among modern yogis that Viparita Karani or Legs Up the Wall Pose may have the power to cure whatever ails you.

Extended Triangle Pose is a quintessential standing pose that stretches and strengthens the whole body.

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana can be whatever you need—energizing, rejuvenating, or luxuriously restorative.

Utkatasana powerfully strengthens the muscles of the arms and legs, but it also stimulates the diaphragm and heart.

Find length in your side body, from your heel to your fingertips with Extended Side Angle Pose.

Bump up your energy (and confidence!) by bending back into Camel Pose. Ustrasana counteracts slouching and relieves lower back pain with a generous, heart-opening stretch.

Purvottanasana counteracts the effects of Chaturanga by stretching the pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and anterior deltoids.

Bend back into the shape of a bow to feel energetically locked, loaded, and ready to take aim.

This revolved variation of Utthita Parsvakonasana requires a lot of flexibility to twist so deeply and ground the back heel.

Rejuvenate your body and mind with this heart-opening flow.

You are enough. Recognize your worth and own who you are with this sequence.

Your heart is a source of intuition and deep knowledge—but you may miss its messages when your (busy) mind rules. This sequence is designed to help you get out of your head and into your heart.

Whether you’re looking to find more compassion in your life or simply want to counteract the effects of sitting at your computer all day, this supportive and strengthening yoga sequence will awaken your heart, body, and mind.

YJ senior editor Meghan Rabbitt caught up with YogaGlo's Kathryn Budig and life coach Ash Cebulka to learn how to navigate change with grace. Plus, Kathryn shares four poses for embracing transition.

Practice this hip-opening sequence regularly to help you release energy from unprocessed grief.

Breasts are intimately connected to a woman’s overall well-being and heart, yet proactive tips for keeping breast tissue healthy are scarce. Fortunately, your yoga practice can help.

Check out Carrie Owerko's author page.

Try these liberating variations of Ustrasana (Camel Pose) from senior Iyengar Yoga teacher Carrie Owerko.

Need a boost? Expect this sequence from Valerie Sagun (aka Big Gal Yoga) to open your heart, silence negative thoughts, ease stress—and show you everything there is to love about your body.

Do this short sequence 3–5 times on its own or as part of a longer practice to open your heart chakra and experience compassion.

In honor of National Yoga Month, Two Fit Moms is offering you this eight-pose flow that will help you reap the cardiovascular benefits of yoga.

Practice these backbends and inversions for increased flexibility and strength and feel the freedom of greater range of motion in your chest and shoulders.

This minor muscle is a major player in backbends. Expand it—and its web of connective tissue—for greater range of motion in your chest and back.

Use these five practices invoking Lakshmi to ignite your inner spark, find your radiant power of grace, and feel the ocean of abundance within you.

Upward-Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana) is a pose that is commonly performed incorrectly. Here's the right way to do it.

Lord of the Dance Pose (Natarajasana) requires foundation, stability, concentration, flexibility, and balanced action -- everything you need as you set out to achieve your goals for the New Year.

One poetic translation of Camatkarasana means "the ecstatic unfolding of the enraptured heart."

Low Lunge, or Anjaneyasana in Sanskrit, stretches the thighs and groins and opens the chest. It provides recovery post-workout, and boosts energy while consciously working to improve posture.

Eka Pada Rajakapotasana II allows you to stretch the entire front body and deep into the hip flexors to strengthen your back and improve posture.

This variation of High Lunge, sometimes called Crescent Pose, is a great preparation for the full version of Virabhadrasana I (Warrior I Pose).

Check out Peggy van Hulsteyn's author page.

A cross between Child's Pose and Downward-Facing Dog, Extended Puppy Pose lengthens the spine and calms the mind.

Can you practice Wheel with straight arms and Headstand without strain? Then, you're ready.

In Extended Hand-to-big-toe Pose, maintaining solid grounding through the standing foot helps keep you steady.

Kapotasana invigorates your body and gives your spirits a lift. This extremely deep backbend is appropriate for advanced practitioners only.

Sphinx Pose is the infant of backbends. It can be practiced with either an active or passive approach.

Ease up into Half Frog Pose, called Ardha Bhekasana in Sanskrit. This pose strengthens the back while gently opening up the shoulders, chest, and thighs—a loving treat for the entire body.

Dolphin Pose strengthens the core, arms, and legs, while also nicely opening the shoulders.

Good posture is possible even without your mom nagging you. One key is stretching and strengthening the muscles around your shoulder blades.

Blow off some steam, wake up your face, and lighten up your practice in silly Simhasana.

In this challenging version of a twist, your arms wrap around your legs so your hands can clasp behind the back, almost like a lasso or a snare.

Heron Pose is an intense hamstring stretch. You may need to give Krounchasana some time.

Take a leap of faith into Hanumanasana or Monkey Pose, named for a figure in Hindu mythology who did just that. And when faith doesn't get you all the way there, practice will.

Boost the body's energy and fight fatigue with Fish Pose, or Matsyasana in Sanskrit, while building confidence with a loving stretch in the shoulders. It is said that if you perform Matsyasana in water, you will be able to float like a fish.

Say hello to leg and ankle strength as you seek stability and extend into this balancing pose, Half Moon Pose.

Can't see the cow face? Notice that the crossed legs look like the lips. The bent-elbow arms, one up and one down, are the ears.

Need an energy boost? Urdhva Dhanurasana can help—and strengthen your arms, legs, abdomen, and spine in the process.

By providing a conscious opening in the chest and stretch in the shoulders, Cobra Pose, called Bhujangasana in Sanskrit, fights fatigue and relieves lower back pain, boosting both the energetic and the physical body.